view from Lake Ann Pass, Collegiate West Segment 02, Colorado Trail, CO (7)
CO (Gunnison County)
near Winfield Historic Site (Collegiate West 02) to meadow at Texas Creek Road (Collegiate West 02)
The trail crossed in front of a cascading waterfall. The CT confidence markers are not as frequent as the white blazes of the Appalachian Trail, so sometimes it is difficult to determine direction. I was not certain where the trail went since a footpath was not visible. Nowadays instead of paper maps, many hiker use Guthook's Trail Apps for navigation purposes. (I do have a similar CT app.) When Right Here caught up to me he consulted his Guthook App and it indicated to cross in front of the falls.
The final climb up to Lake Ann Pass (12,588') was switchbacked and not too difficult. Lake Ann was passed on the way up. There were some rock fields to navigate as well as some snow fields. I made it to the Pass at 1156 where I saw Right Here again. No sign, but there was a rock cairn. I took a short break to take in the stunning views while clouds were gathering. The footpath was clearly visible on the other side.
Once below treeline, the trail stayed in the woods all the way down. I stopped at a water source to make dinner. Often on the CT I have a dry campsite. I've begun to have an early dinner at a convenient water source. Earlier I saw 2 motorcyclists who were cutting blowdowns - Thanks!
The rest of the day wasn't too bad, mostly downhill, but some very steep, sidehill trail. Don't look down and down fall. I ended up at a large meadow at Texas Creek Road. Once again I had my tent set-up just before a thunderstorm. It didn't last long. There was another tenter here who had started in Durango. 15.7 total miles for the day but did not make it out of Collegiate West Segment 02.
view from Lake Ann Pass, Collegiate West Segment 02, Colorado Trail, CO (7)
CO (Gunnison County)
near Winfield Historic Site (Collegiate West 02) to meadow at Texas Creek Road (Collegiate West 02)
The trail crossed in front of a cascading waterfall. The CT confidence markers are not as frequent as the white blazes of the Appalachian Trail, so sometimes it is difficult to determine direction. I was not certain where the trail went since a footpath was not visible. Nowadays instead of paper maps, many hiker use Guthook's Trail Apps for navigation purposes. (I do have a similar CT app.) When Right Here caught up to me he consulted his Guthook App and it indicated to cross in front of the falls.
The final climb up to Lake Ann Pass (12,588') was switchbacked and not too difficult. Lake Ann was passed on the way up. There were some rock fields to navigate as well as some snow fields. I made it to the Pass at 1156 where I saw Right Here again. No sign, but there was a rock cairn. I took a short break to take in the stunning views while clouds were gathering. The footpath was clearly visible on the other side.
Once below treeline, the trail stayed in the woods all the way down. I stopped at a water source to make dinner. Often on the CT I have a dry campsite. I've begun to have an early dinner at a convenient water source. Earlier I saw 2 motorcyclists who were cutting blowdowns - Thanks!
The rest of the day wasn't too bad, mostly downhill, but some very steep, sidehill trail. Don't look down and down fall. I ended up at a large meadow at Texas Creek Road. Once again I had my tent set-up just before a thunderstorm. It didn't last long. There was another tenter here who had started in Durango. 15.7 total miles for the day but did not make it out of Collegiate West Segment 02.